Steering-post lock



Aug. i4, 1923. v RAAGQQS c. F. KETTERING STEERING POST LOCK Filed June1'7, 1921 @Z''o a me y Patented Aug.. lll, 1923.

iljiitll@ STTE s ritmes enterar CHARLES E'. KETTERING, OF DAYTON,

OHIO, ASSIGNOB, TO GENERAL MOTORS 'y RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE.

STEERING-roer Loon.

Application filed June `17, 1921. Serial No. 478,426.

T all fw hom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Knr'rnn- ING,a citizen of the America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, andvState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteering-Post Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The present invention relates to locking means for automotive vehiclesand in its preferred form of embodiment which has been chosen .for thepurposes of description and illustration, relates moreparticularly to asteering post lock for automobiles.

The objects of the invention include the provision of a simple,economically constructed and repaired, and efhcient lock Jfor automobilesteering apparatus.

Further objects and ladvantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of theinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of :in automobile instrumentboard cowl and steering wheel and post.

Fig. 2 is an elevation with parts in section of a supporting bracket fora steering post such as is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the under side of a portion of the bracket andpost.

Fig. et is a viewsimilar to Fig, 3 of a portion of the steering postalone.

The automobile, used for convenience of description and explanation, isprovided with the usual running gear, power plant, etc., and with theusual means for converting the rotary` motion of the steering wheel intothe reciprocating motion required for turning the front wheels. None vofthese elements are shown as they7V form no part of the presentapplication and are not required to understand the invention.

In the drawing, the instrument board 10 of the automobile is shownhaving attached thereto a supporting bracket 11 for the steering post.This supporting bracket 11 is provided with a flat portion forattachment to the instrument board and also with a, sleeve portion 12through which extends the steering postJ 15. Y

The bracket 11 with its sleeve 12 serves.

United States of Y as a support for the steeringpost 15 and also as aguide and bearing therefor.

In the preferred form of embodiment of the present invention, thesteering post 15 is provided with a slot, indicated at 16, adapted toregister with an opening in the sleeve 12 of the supporting bracket.

In order to lock the steering wheel from rotation it is suliicient tocause the slot 16 and the opening 20 to register and to insert thereinsome means for retaining them in registry. Such an object is readily7accomplished by the use of padlock 21 such as is (':learly indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, the bow of the padlock passing through the opening 20 inthe bracket and into the slot 16 in the steering post. i

There has been described above a very simple and eflicient means forretaining the slot and opening in registry but there are undoubtedlyother means for accomplishing this result which may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

For example, another means which is contemplated consists in theattachment to the instrument board or to the bracket itself a lock ofthe ordinary bolt type. In using this form of lock it is sutlicient toobtain the registry of the two` openings and Vthrow the holt into them,thus retaining` them in registry.

Further, while the form of mechanism herein shown and described`constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention, itis to be understood that other forms might be adopted. all coming withinthe scope of the claim which follows. -V

IVhat I claim is as follows? In combination, a bracket having a sleeveadapted to form a bearing or guide for a steeringl post and provided inits wall with an opening; a steering post adapted to be supported insaid sleeve and provided with a slotregistrable with the opening in saidsleeve and extending beyond the latter; 'whereby the bow of an ordinarypadlock may be inserted through said opening and, extending into theslot, secure said post from turning.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

CHARLES F. KET'IERING. Witnesses:

L. H. IEMnIcK,

